The Yankees were down 3-2 with 1 out in the 8th inning, running out of time, having lost all 4 games against Oakland this season and staring at a 5th straight loss to them, when Aaron Judge hit a monster opposite-field home run to tie the game, then DJ LeMahieu won it with a walk-off home run in the 11th to give the Yanks a 4-3 win over Oakland. And just like that everyone’s Saturday night in NYC was a little bit nicer — knowing the Yankees beat the A’s, with Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez and DJ LeMahieu home runs. Everyone who was a Yankee fan. And tomorrow: a chance to win the series over the A’s, after all the doom-and-gloom talk that the A’s ‘owned’ the Yankees. Just like that.
DJ played Closing Time. pic.twitter.com/ia7fET49LQ
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 31, 2019
This one started off well, as had several of the other games against Oakland. Domingo German was pitching well and Gary Sanchez hit a monster home run to left in the 2nd inning to put the Yanks up 1-0, which they held into the 4th. But 1st baseman Matt Olsen hit a 2-run homer off German to give Oakland the lead. Gary Sanchez tied it in the bottom of the 5th with another home run.
We're gonna do a Gary 1-2. pic.twitter.com/XcWTIOfi3A
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 31, 2019
Meanwhile, besides the Sanchez homers — Homer Bailey kept the Yankees at bay.
Lasagna Works Out of Jam
German’s pitch count was high at 90 so he left after 5, replaced by Jonathan Loaisiga who walked the first batter in the 6th, and after a strikeout, allowed a single and hit a batter to load the bases with 1 out. Lasagna went to 3-1 on 2nd baseman Sheldon Neuse but came back to strike him out — HUGE. Then he got a Great play on a grounder to short by Didi Gregorius who ranged to his left and threw off balance to 1st to nab catcher Chris Herrmann for the final out — keeping the score tied 2-2.
Easy For Didi 😎 pic.twitter.com/QadQmGVPzP
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 31, 2019
Kahnle Comes Up Huge
Adam Ottavino allowed a single and a RBI double by Matt Chapman in the 7th to give Oakland the 3-2 lead. He proceeded to load the bases with an intentional walk and hit by pitch, so Tommy Kahnle had to come in with bases loaded, 2 outs, and Oakland looking to put the game away. Kahnle threw SMOKE — 2 straight strikes and then an easy fly to left for the final out.
BIG CLUTCH PITCHING CHAD GREEEEEEEN!!!
Zack Britton pitched the 8th but had to leave after coming off a pitch with an apparent hamstring injury. Chad Green came in and worked through trouble but struck out the last batter to get thru the 8th, giving Judge the chance to tie it. At that point only three Yankees had hits in the game — Gary Sanchez (2 homers), Mike Ford (single), and Gleyber Torres (single).
Still time to #AllRise ☝️ pic.twitter.com/v26fev5lQr
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 31, 2019
Extra Innings
Aroldis Chapman pitched the 9th, and worked his usual tightrope — allowing 2 runners after getting the first two outs. Then Cory Gearrin — of all people — came in and pitched 2 shutout innings to get the game to the 11th. With 2 out in the 10th, Matt Chapman hit a drive to right that Aaron Judge made a terrific catch on, just over the wall. PHEW.
AIR JUDGE pic.twitter.com/KrfuDvBSyY
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) August 31, 2019
Lou Trivino pitched the 10th and 11th for Oakland, giving up the game winner to LeMahieu.
Etcetera
Aaron Judge ended up 1 for 3 with a walk and that BIG home run (and that BIG catch at the wall). Now batting .281 w 19 homers 43 RBI in 299 At Bats.
DJ LeMahieu went 1 for 5 — his average is at .333 still leading the American League. Houston’s Michael Brantley is at .332.
Houston and Los Angeles lost — so with the win the Yankees now have sole possession of the best record in baseball — 1 game ahead of Houston and 1.5 ahead of the Dodgers.
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